Victim identified in wheelchair-pickup crash in Pahrump

Nye County officials have released the name of the man struck and killed by a pickup truck along Blagg Road just south of Highway 372.

Trevor Bengtson, 27, of Pahrump was operating a motorized wheelchair along the roadway when he was hit by the white full-sized GMC pickup truck on March 23, authorities said.

Bengtson was outside of a marked crosswalk on south Blagg Road, while the driver of the truck was traveling northbound, an official Nevada Highway Patrol release states.

“The pedestrian crossed the centerline, entered the northbound travel lane into the path of the GMC resulting in the pedestrian being struck,” the release stated. The driver of the GMC remained on scene and cooperated with investigators. Speed and impairment do not appear to be factors in this crash, the NHP said.

The name of the pickup truck driver was not released. He was not hurt.

Pahrump fire response

While en route, first responders were notified there was an unconscious person lying unresponsive, face down in the roadway.

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services Chief Scott Lewis said crews arrived on scene just after 8 p.m. and began life-saving measures.

The victim was placed into the ambulance but was pronounced dead shortly afterward by a Nye County Sheriff’s Office deputy coroner.

“We were dispatched for a report of a pedestrian versus motor vehicle accident, involving a person in a wheelchair,” Lewis said. “As a result, we placed Mercy Air on standby and upon arrival, we found an accident involving a pickup truck versus a motorized wheelchair. We found the patient as reported by dispatch and requested Mercy Air to arrive at the scene, however, the patient did not survive the injuries.”

The crash marks the Nevada Highway Patrol-Southern Command’s 15th fatal crash resulting in 17 fatalities for 2017.

Fire crews remained on scene pending the arrival from NHP and assisted with the investigation.

Lack of visibility along that stretch of roadway after dark, may have contributed to the accident, as no streetlights are in the area.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes